Q&A

Q. Is there any place left that is welcoming smokers? Where can I go and not be treated like a second-class tourist?

A. True, fewer places worldwide are welcoming smokers, but is that any reason to think of yourself as second-class? Not according to John Banzhaf, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), a national nonsmoker rights organization. He notes that nudists, people who ride trail motorcycles (Banzhaf is one), fireworks enthusiasts and others are also not allowed to indulge their passions when traveling to various destinations, but they hardly think of themselves as second-class citizens. Nevertheless, smokers are still at least tolerated in many locales around the world, including Japan, China and most South American countries. (For ASH's up-to-date list, see http://ash.org/intltravel.)

Samantha Phillipe, president of the Smoker's Club, a smokers advocacy group, likes to direct tourists to her online publication (at www.smokersclubinc.com), where you can click on dozens of destinations for news and information that may be of interest to tobacco users. But remember, Phillipe says: "No matter where you go, call ahead to be sure there is smoking."

See sights in Poland

Q. We would like to visit Auschwitz, perhaps making it part of a five-day trip to the area. Do you have any suggestions for other points of interest to round out our travel plans?

A. The Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau in southern Poland, where more than a million Jews were murdered during World War II, are visited by thousands of travelers each year (for info, see www.auschwitz.org.pl). The city of Krakow, about 40 miles east, deserves a visit.

Also worth a visit, the spectacular castle on Wawel Hill, a former royal residence, as well as the cathedral there; both date from the 14th century. The old Jewish neighborhood of Kazimierz has been revived in recent years. A few miles from Krakow is another popular tourist attraction, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which boasts an unbelievable network of tunnels and underground attractions, including a chapel and former sanatorium, both carved out of salt. Finally, consider a visit to the town of Zakopane. Located two hours south of Krakow near the Slovakian border, it's most often thought of as Poland's winter sports capital, but at other times of the year it's a popular rafting and hiking destination.